*Syria, Government

Judicial branch:
Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation,
State Security Courts
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 see note); Vice Presidents
'Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since
11 March 1984); note - President ASAD seized power in the November 1970
coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as
president in the 12 March 1971 national elections
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister
Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim
YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Rashid AKHTARINI
(since 4 July 1992)
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Walid MOUALEM
chancery:
2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 232-6313
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
embassy:
Abu Rumaneh, Al Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
mailing address:
P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone:
[963] (11) 333052 or 332557, 330416, 332814, 332315, 714108, 337178, 333232
FAX:
[963] (11) 718687
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small
green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq,
which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal
line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which
has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

*Syria, Economy

Overview:
Syria's state-dominated Ba'thist economy has benefited from the Gulf war,
increased oil production, good weather, and economic deregulation. Economic
growth averaged nearly 12% annually in 1990-91, buoyed by increased oil
production and improved agricultural performance. The Gulf war of early 1991
provided Syria an aid windfall of nearly $5 billion dollars from Arab,
European, and Japanese donors. These inflows more than offset Damascus's
war-related costs and will help Syria cover some of its debt arrears,
restore suspended credit lines, and initiate selected military and civilian
purchases. In 1992 the government spurred economic development by loosening
controls on domestic and foreign investment while maintaining strict
political controls. For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with
a large number of poorly performing public sector firms and industrial and
agricultural productivity is poor. A major long-term concern is the
additional drain of upstream Euphrates water by Turkey when its vast dam and
irrigation projects are completed by mid-decade.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $30 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
9% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,300 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.7% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $5.4 billion; expenditures $7.5 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.9 billion (1991 est.)
Exports:
$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 45%, farm products 11%, textiles, phosphates 5% (1990)
partners:
USSR and Eastern Europe 44%, EC 34%, Arab countries 17%, US/Canada 1% (1990)
Imports:
$2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs and beverages 21%, machinery 15%, metal and metal products 15%,
textiles 7%, petroleum products (1990)
partners:
EC 42%, USSR and Eastern Europe 13%, other Europe 13%, US/Canada 11%, Arab
countries 6% (1990)
External debt:
$5.3 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
3,205,000 kW capacity; 11,900 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining,
petroleum
Agriculture:
accounts for 27% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops
(wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rain-watered
land causing wide swings in production; animal products - beef, lamb, eggs,
poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products

*Syria, Economy

Illicit drugs:
a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe
and heroin and hashish bound for the Persian Gulf area
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US)
ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.23 billion; OPEC bilateral
aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; former Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3
billion
Currency:
1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 22.0 (promotional rate since 1991), 22.0
(official rate since 1991), 42.0 (official parallel rate since 1991),
11.2250 (fixed rate 1987-90)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Syria, Communications

Railroads:
1,998 km total; 1,766 km standard gauge, 232 km 1.050-meter (narrow) gauge
Highways:
29,000 km total; 670 km expressways; 5,000 km main or national roads; 23,330
km secondary or regional roads (not including municipal roads); 22,680 km of
the total is paved (1988)
Inland waterways:
870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,304 km, petroleum products 515 km
Ports:
Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas, Jablah
Merchant marine:
41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,247 GRT/183,607 DWT; includes 36
cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 bulk
Airports:
total:
104
usable:
100
with permanent-surface runways:
24
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
21
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital
upgrades, including fiber optic technology; 512,600 telephones (37
telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV;
satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik; 1
submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan,
Lebanon, and Turkey

*Syria, Defense Forces

Branches:
Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air
Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 3,168,429; fit for military service 1,777,413; reach
military age (19) annually 151,102 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% of GDP (1992)